PRESERVATION NEWSLETTER RACINE, INC. SPRING 2007

The Blake House Redesignated

On October 19, 1977, Blake House was the first building listed in Racine's Southside Historic District It was cited as "a key building" by the United States Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places. This spring the Common Council of Racine redesignated the house a local landmark, the first to be listed under the new ordinance.The house at 936 South Main Street was built about 1868, shortly after the end ofthe Civil War in the Italianate style which had become popular through the books of Andrew Jackson Downing. George Bull, owner of a dry goods business at the southwest comer of Sixth and Main streets, and his wife, Roxilana, chose an unusual version, that of a Tuscan Villa with a full tower or campanile ending in a belvedere which is topped by a concave mansard roof - tmly rare in Racine. The cream brick house exhibits most of the exterior features found in a typical Italianate style building with its gently sloping roofs, paired decorative brackets under the wide eaves, long arched windows decorated with molded brick, and a delicate frame bay on the south side. Missing is its front porch. It took its place with neighboring mansions on South Main Street one hundred and thirty-nine years ago. The interior features include plaster comices, marble fireplace surrounds and mantels, impressive woodwork and parquet flooring. It was a fine house, indeed, when sold to Lucius and Caroline Blake in 1873. It remained in the Blake family until 1926 when it became a boarding house.

1976 marked a dramatic point in time for the structure. Blake House had been converted into five apartments and, since 1952, been owned by the Beth Israel Sinai Congregation. No longer interested in overseeing it as rental units, the Congregation decided the property would better serve its needs as an additional parking lot. Preservation - Racine, Inc had been organized just a few years before Upon learning of the threat to the house, Preservation-Racine, Inc went into action forming a consortium with The Junior League of Racine, Racine Urban Aesthetics, and the Racine County Historical Society expressly to save the building. The consortium entered into negotiations with the congregation, which, by a narrow margin, agreed to a stay of its demolition plans.

With guidance from Jeff Dean, then Director ofthe State Historic Preservation offices, Tom Lutz in the Midwest offices of the National Tmst for Historic Preservation, and local volunteer legal advice from Robert R. Henzl, the consortium became incorporated in 1977 under the name of The Blake House Restoration, Inc. Its bylaws provided that the board of directors consist of individuals interested in the preservation of the building, traditionally, however, the boards consisted of representatives ofthe original sponsoring organizations.

A twenty year lease was signed. Under this agreement the concerns ofthe congregation to retain control over its adjacent property and the preservationists' goal to preserve a significant building were met. The lease gave full responsibility to Blake House Restoration, Inc. for the cost of improvements, taxes, and other expenses. The lease cost was frxed a $1,500 per year for the first four years, during which most improvements were to be accomplished, with a carefiilly-regulated escalation expected in succeeding years.

Beginning in the spring of 1977, through the efforts of volunteers and funding from the consortium members, which included a most important three year $15,000 commitment from The Junior League of Racine, intense restoration began at Blake House. Incredibly, the goal of having the five apartments occupied and producing income by the fall of 1977 was met.

Continuing improvements and restoration were made possible by grants from the Johnson Wax Fund, the City of Racine's Architectural Conservation Loan Fund, and volunteer work by such diverse groups as the Army Corps of Engineers and the Racine Boy Scouts. Although some attention had been given to plaster and molding repair, in 1983 the nationally renowned Chicago firm, Luczak Brothers Inc, was hired for interior plaster restoration. By 1985 total restoration and maintenance costs were estimated at $65,000 plus volunteer hours comparable in value to $33,000. A few visible exterior accomplishments have been the removal of a picture window from the front facade and replacement with two arched windows, the total restoration ofthe rear porch, mck pointing and repair and repainting of the wood trim. Maintenance and repair have kept Blake House a model of preservation achievement.

Preservation-Racine purchased Blake House from Beth Israel Sinai Congregation in July 2005. One of the apartments serves as its office and headquarters.

Barbara S. Walter

From the President

An updated City of Racine landmarks preservation ordinance became effective in January of 2006. Section 58-2 states, "Whereas, historical architectural and archeological and cultural heritage are among our most important assets, it is hereby declared to be the purpose of this chapter for the city to engage in a comprehensive program of historic preservation to promote the use and conservation of historic property for education, welfare, inspiration, pleasure and enrichment ofthe people and foster civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past." Laudable as this new ordinance is, none of the previously identified approximately 86 landmarks have been grandfathered under this protective umbrella. Matt Sadowski, Principal Planner for the city, explains

The designation of a landmark is now a duel fimction of the Historic Preservation Ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance. This affords opponents and proponents more of an opportunity to educate the public and the decision makers before a final determination is made on a proposed landmark. To be, a fimction of zoning also provides more protection to designated landmarks. Under the old ordinance, de-listing a designated landmark only required action by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Under the revised ordinance, the decision making process is more in the public eye by adding Plan Commission review, a zoning public hearing, and formal action at the Common Council. This new ordinance identifies our community as a certified local government by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the U.S. Department ofthe Interior.

I have heard owners of historic buildings worrying that a landmark designation of their property could cause problems when they are interested in doing renovations. Property owners are free to make interior changes at will. No one would be inspecting their interior property. By definition, important historic properties are treasures of the community that holds them. It is in the best interest of our Racine community to encourage owners of these buildings to honor their design and craftsmanship. This ordinance is designed to prevent irreversible change to the exterior appearance or razing a landmark. The Blake House, owned by Preservation Racine, is in the process of becoming the first historic building nominated as a Racine landmark under this new ordinance. This redesignation affords our community the opportunity to see how this process works, as well as the period of time required to complete the process. In an earlier newsletter, I reported some of the improvements that Preservation Racine has completed since acquiring Blake House. These improvements add to the beauty and stability of this wonderfiil edifice. In "Architectural and Historical Survey of the City of Racine" (Racine Landmarks Preservation Commission, 1980), author Susan Karr referred to the Blake house as "the most imposing masonry house designed in the Italian Villa style remaining in the city of Racine." We hope that our example of piloting this process will be a catalyst for re-identifying our formerly recognized landmarks. Racine's historical architectural, archeological and cultural heritage is among our most important assets. Let's do everything we can to protect and take care of them.

Vivian Merlo

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Lucius Sawyer Blake's life is so interwoven in the early history of Racine that his impact upon our development as an important industrial community cannot be measured or unraveled. Bom in Burlington, Vermont on March 14, 1816, to Capt. Levi Blake and Mary Blake, and one often children, his rise to prominence can be credited to hard work and interests broad and lively.

The Levi Blake family gradually made their way west from New England, living in Pennsylvania until 1834 when they traveled to Michigan. Leaving Mary and the children there, Levi and three of his sons, Lucius, Charles, and E. Sanford, drove to Chicago (then Fort Dearbom). Not pleased with that flat, wet area, they walked to Racine during a blinding blizzard. Down to their last match, they were all certain they would freeze to death if they could not start a fire. They continued their trek and on February 15, 1835, they arrived in Racine where they secured claims on the Root River five miles northwest of the city in what is now Caledonia. Levi and Charles retumed to Chicago. Lucius and Sanford occupied a windowless shanty until 1837 when a log house was completed. Eventually, the whole family settled here and Lucius farmed with his father for a time. In 1839 he established a small carpenter shop on the north side of the river bank in Racine.

On December 26, 1843, Lucius married Caroline Elliot. Before Caroline would consent to set up housekeeping, provisions for a year were bought and stored... a barrel of beef, a barrel of pork, a barrel of flour, a box of raisins, a sack of salt, green coffee, and whole spices to be ground in hand mills. They spent the early years of their married life in a house on the comer of Wisconsin and Sixth streets and here their children were bom, five in all: Byron B., Stella M., Adoniram, Annetta, who died at the age of three, and Lucius E., who lived but to six years of age.

Fanning mills were much in demand, and farmers came to the carpenter shop for such, so that in 1844 Lucius became the first fanning mill manufacturer in Racine. He set up his shop on Wisconsin, behind the family's home. The first year he built 100 mills. At first, the work was done by hand. Too slow, the process was upgraded to employ machinery and horsepower, then steam power. By 1879 the firm of Blake, Beebe & Co. was manufacturing 3,500 fanning mills per annum, which were sold worldwide.

Some regard Blake as Racine's first industrialist because of his fanning mill production. Without the fanning mill, a hand-cranked fan that blew air through the wheat to remove the chaff, the wagon and plow industries might not have developed here. He was also instmmental in establishing other early Racine industries. In 1863 The Racine Woolen Manufacturing Company was organized to take over a small woolen manufacturing business located at Bridge and Ontario streets. Trade steadily grew and, in 1877, the company was re-organized as the Racine Woolen Mills. The company originally made shawls and blankets and, in later years, cloth for clothing. The shawls were sent out under the name ofthe Badger State Shawls. Colorful Indian-design shawls and blankets were sold "to all Indian traders throughout the United States." Blake was also one of the incorporators and the president of the Chicago Rubber Clothing Company. His other major interests included the Ilartmann Tmnk Company, the Turner Stove Company, the Racine Steam Knitting Company, and the Manufacturers National Bank.

_j tj- In addition to such financial pursuits, Blake devoted himself to public service as village tmstee, alderman, county treasurer, and state assembly representative. And during the Civil War he served as provost marshal (or draft commissioner) of Racine County at Camp Utiey and organized the first conscription in the state.

He, too, had an interest in the cultural community and in 1882 buih "the finest theater in the wesf here in Racine, The Blake Opera House. Located on the northeast comer of Sixth and College, the six-story, 1,200-seat was sumptuous in detail, with European tapestries and crystal chandeliers. Unfortunately, it burned to the ground two years later during the Christmas season of 1884.

Lucius Blake died on November 4, 1894. "He was one ofthe most public-spirited men in the city," according to his obituary, "and never lost faith in the fiiture of Racine ..."

Mary Whitman

Racine's Fanning Mill Industry

(This article was written by Jim Mercier in 1992 for Ruud Lighting's company newsletter, Ruud Remarks, and reproduced here with Jim's permission.)

I'm sure that you are wondering what is a fanning mill. If you were around about a hundred years ago and owned your own farm, you would have known exactly what one is. However, before I get into the particulars of what this early-day farm machine did, let's go back to the very early years of Racine's history, when farming was the area's primary industry.

Before the time ofthe threshing machine, farmers would have to cut their grain using old-fashioned scythes. In order to separate the grain from the stalks, it would have to be beaten using rather large sticks. Some farmers even used cattle or horses to trample the grain. After this process, they would use large wooden forks to lift and shake the grain. The final step would be to blow the chaff from the grain by forcing air through it, a process called "winnowing."

As you may have guessed, this proved to be a very time-consuming and tiring process when done by hand. Several farmers knew that this task could be accomplished by a cmde machine called a fanning mill, which was a device containing a rotating wooden fan.

Lucius Blake, who owned a small carpenter shop located on the banks ofthe Root River, had so many requests from area farmers to build these fanning mills that soon he had time for nothing else. He decided to enter into the business of manufacturing these devices fiiU time. Blake didn't realize that this venture not only would be the start of a new industry in Racine, but the start of making Racine an industrial city as well. The new company soon prospered. Now referred to as "Fanning Mill" Blake, his company eventually tumed out well over three thousand mills per year, providing employment for over 50 men. He became the largest manufacturer of fanning mills in the world, and shipments were now being made coast-to-coast. His export market consisted of Canada, Europe, and Australia.

It wasn't long before a host of other Racine companies began to manufacturer fanning mills as well, capitalizing on Blake's success. Names like A.P. Dickey, E.P. • Dickey (brothers who owned their own respective companies), Daniel Bull, J Altringer, Johnson & Field, and others became well-known in their own rights. j These combined factories were now producing thousands of fanning mills employing > hundreds of men, while shipping products throughout the world. The company ' names were different, but Racine was now known as the "fanning mill capital ofthe .. world," a title well-deserved. What Detroit was to the automobile, Racine was to the fanning mill and could boast more fanning mill companies than any other city in the U.S. In addition, many of these companies expanded into other farm-related products. Feed and silage cutters, milk and pie safes (kitchen storage cabinets with built-in screens to keep the flies out), com shellers, etc. roimded out their product lines.

During the early 1900s farmers began to experience improved farm power and greater mechanization. The once-popular fanning mills were now being replaced by larger machines which were more efficient and productive. Except for the smaller fmmer, fanning mills were fast becoming obsolete. One by one the Racine manufacturers began to drop from the picture, or relied on other products to keep them in operation. By 1912 the last fanning mill maker, E.P. Dutton, ceased operations. The final chapter was now closed on this once-thriving industry.

Jim Mercier The Blake Opera House (Reprinted from the Winter 1982 Preservation Racine Newsletter)

The most written-about event ofthe holiday season of 1882 was the opening ofthe Blake Opera House on Friday Evening, December 15*. It was Racine's most important social occasion, and it received extensive coverage in the local press.

The movement to build a proper theater for the rapidly growing City of Racine was led by Lucius S. Blake, for whom the building was named. With the support of Stephen Bull, J.I. Case, Charles S. Beebe, and John T. Fish, a company was formed to finance the building. "The list of stockholders," according to the Daily Journal "embraces the names of many of our most prominent citizens." The project was a civic effort worthy of celebration.

The Blake Opera House stood at the northeast comer of Sixth Street and College Avenue. James M. Wood, a Chicago architect who specialized in building theaters, designed it and remained here as its first manager. The Blake was six stories high. It housed a hotel, stores along Sixth Street, and "A Palatial Opera House that Cannot Be Excelled m the West," as the Daily Journal modestly proclamied in a headlme. That same newspaper described the impact ofthe building: "Passing through the city on The Northwestem Railway or entering it on the CM. & St. Paul, it is the most prominent object that meets the eye, towering above every other building in the city." It was the pride of Racine. The auditorium was a "marvel of beauty," according to the Racine Advocate. Its main floor, dress circle, boxes, loges, balcony, and gallery were buih to seat 1250 people. Two pagodas with painted, gilded, and tumed wooden columns flanked the stage. Each contained two private boxes, one above the other. They were "draped with the most costly fabrics, the materials being a combination of silk Turcoman in cmshed strawberry, old blue embossed silk plush and bands of jute valeur, looped back with a magnificent loop and tassels."

Above the proscenium arch was a huge fresco depicting "Orpheus (the god of song) leading his deceased wife (the lost arts) from the Hades to the world again." The main drop curtain below was woven especially for the theater, repeating the color scheme of strawberry, blue, and gold. The stage it revealed was 40 feet deep and 65 feet wide.

The walls of the house were papered in "an elegant design of terra cotta on a gold ground," as the Advocate described it' and "the foyer, stairways, boxes, and aisles are carpeted with rich Bmssels carpet." The ceiling was decorated with a painted trellis "on which vines, blooming as if it were a bright June day, rest on rich decorated friezes," wrote the Daily Journal. "Through the lattice and vines we see a bright blue sky, several swallows sailing through the bright clean air." It was like the palace of a Persian prince.

1 •> «;- In the center of the ceiling hung the main chandelier, "an artistic and elegant fixture of polished brass, with clusters of porcelain candles," reported the Advocate. "From the bands of the fixture hang graceful festoons of crystal, which reflect their prismatic lights spreading a charming effect." The other fixtures in the house were designed to match the chandelier. This grand fixture and some of the stage lights were electric. The Blake was one of the first theaters in the United States to use incandescent lights. The Bijou in Boston, which also used them, opened only three days earlier. The other fixtures in the house and the footlights in the Blake used gas. On the night of the opening more than a thousand people, who had purchased tickets at auction a week earlier, gathered for the dedication and for a performance of Esmeralda by a company from the Madison Square Theater in New York. Bach's Orchestra from Milwaukee played incidental music. Judge Charles E. Dyer presented the theater, "a thing of beauty," to the citizens of Racine as a Christmas gift from its builders. District Attorney Henry Allen Cooper accepted the gift on behalf of the audience, declaring: "Surely this temple ofthe drama must prove a perpetual source of enjojmient to the people of Racine." In little more than two years all the beauty and all the joy were gone.

Early on Sunday moming, December 28, 1884, an explosion and fire destroyed the building quickly and completely. The Daily Journal reported that "flame enveloped the northeast comer and burst through the roof with startling rapidity. The entire stmcture from roof to basement was wrapped in a fiery shroud, and in less than twenty minutes the north wall fell in to the street with a crash and the stately and handsome stmcture was a mass of mins." A curtain of fire rang down on "the thespian palace of Racine" forever.

Don Rintz Wright and Like 2007: Prairie on the Lakes

Frank Lloyd Wright's cluster of summer homes and estates around Delevan Lake are the focus ofthe 2007 Wright and Like architecture tour scheduled for Saturday June 9. Sponsored by Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin, this year's Wright and Like 2007: Prairie on the Lakes will feature interior and exterior tours of significant stmctures designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and other architects who were his contemporaries or influenced by Mr. Wright. All private homes and public buildings will be open to tour from 9am - 5pm.

Rarely open to the public and seldom available for tours, five ofthe eight original Frank Lloyd Wright structures will be featured, including the Fred B. Jones estate (1901 - 1903), the largest ofthe Delavan projects. One ofthe highlights is its historic boathouse, recently restored.

Delavan's Allyn Mansion (1885) designed by E. Townsend Mix, one of Milwaukee's leading architects ofthe time, will also be included on the tour. This Queen Anne Eastlake-style mansion, currently a bed and breakfast, has been meticulously restored to its original condition.

On the banks of Lake Geneva another highlight will be an architectural tour of Yerkes Observatory (1897), designed by Henry Ives Cobb and listed on the National Register. The Romanesque style astronomical observatory will be of great interest to architecture buffs with its elaborate exterior details in brown Roman brick with matching terra cotta ornaments.

In downtown Lake Geneva on a dramatic site also overlooking the lake is the Lake Geneva Public Library (1954). Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protege James R. Dresser, this Prairie style building is constmcted of Roman brick and red oak with immense glass areas, combining beauty and utility.

Tickets for the Saturday self-drive tour purchased before May T' are $40 (member) and $45 (non-member); after May 1 tickets are $45 (member) and $50 (non-member). For reservations and information call 608-287-0339 or visit www.wrightinwisconsin.org.

All proceeds benefit Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin Heritage Tourism Program, Inc., a non-profit organization designed to promote, protect, and preserve the heritage of Frank Lloyd Wright, his genius and architecture in his native state of Wisconsin.

WRIGHT PLUS HOUSEWALK

The 33^^ annual Wright Plus Housewalk will be held in Oak Park, Illinois, on Saturday, May 19***, from 9am to 5 pm.

Ticket holders will view the interiors of eight private residences and two landmark buildings designed by Wright and his colleagues. The Wright Plus ticket also includes admission through December 31, 2007, to Wright's masterpiece, the Frederick C. Robie House (1909-10) on the campus ofthe University of Chicago. The Robie House is located 45 minutes from Oak Park in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago at 5757 South Woodlawn Avenue.

Tickets are $70 per person for members ofthe Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust and $85 per person for non- members. For more information call (877) 848-3559. Wright Conservancy Needs You!

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's annual, national meeting will be held in Northbrook, Illinois in October of 2007. Part of this event will include a day in Racine on Friday, October 12. Volunteers will be needed to help make the day a success for four busloads of visitors from across the country. We will need greeters at Wingspread, the Robert Albert house, and the Keland house. If you are able to help this organization with your time and talents for this special event, please e-mail Vivian Merlo at [email protected] or call her at 262-634-0734. Volunteer names will be forwarded to Mark Hertzberg.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy grew out of a conference hosted by the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread Conference Center about 17 years ago. The Conservancy is composed of Frank Lloyd Wright building owners, those connected with publicly owned Wright buildings, architects interested in Wright's work, and just plain Wright buffs (Preservation Racine Newsletter, Winter 1995). This organization is dedicated to the preservation of Wright's work.

DUES ARE DUE

It is time for most members of Preservation Racine to pay their annual dues, which are due in March, unless the mailing label on this newsletter indicates a life membership ("L") or a date later than "MAR 07." Dues can be paid at any membership meeting or mailed to: Preservation Racine, Inc.; P.O. Box 383; Racine, WI 53401.

PRESERVATION RACINE NEWSLETTER

Published quarterly by Preservation Racine, Inc. Roberta Fiene, Bob Johnson, Vivian Merlo, Barbara P.O. Box 383 Walter, Mary Whitman Racine, Wisconsin 53401 Web site: www.preservationracine.org Office - Blake House 936 S. MainSn-eet President Vivian Merlo Racine, WI 53403 Vice President Mary Ann Staupe (262) 634-5748 Secretary Pippin Michelli Treasurer Charles Rice COMING UP

National Preservation Month Wright Plus Housewalk "Making Preservation Work!" Oak Park, Illinois Century Buildings Event Saturday, May 19^ 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday, May 7*, 6:30 p.m. Great Hall, The DeKoven Center Wright and Like Lakes Delavan and Geneva, Wisconsin Satorday, June 9*^, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Preservation Racine Tour of Historic Places Simday, September 30*^^, noon - 5:30 p.m.

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